The Houston activist says he's dumped the hate

Most famous for sounding off against the "white establishment," Quanell is not afraid to point his finger at black leaders, too.

"A pastor said recently on the radio that Quanell X used to be the pit bull for the black community," he says. "And I say to that pastor, I am still the pit bull for the black community, I've just taken my leash out of your hand, out of the hands of black leaders who want to play politics, out of the hands of those black leaders who would vote and stand with what's in the best interest of a party before they stand with what's in the best interest of the black community. To hell with them. I'm not going to play that game whether they like it or not."

One of the reasons, Quanell says, that some supporters in his own community are turning against him is his recent less aggressive stance against white people.

Daniel Kramer

Seldom without a crowd, Quanell X keeps his bodyguards close while praying at the Islamic Da'wah Center.

Revolutionary Muslim and teacher Khalid Abdul Muhammad of the Nation of Islam trained an impressionable Quanell X how to stir a crowd with hateful statements.

"When I met Quanell in 1996," says Pastor Chris Wright of Grace Temple Ministries, who has long been one of Quanell's allies, "he was a young man. We're talking sworn enemy from the womb to the tomb, from the cradle to the grave, I will fight you all the way, I will dig up your dead and kill them again because they didn't die hard enough the first time. That individual was a very hardened individual. It was very difficult for him to totally trust a Caucasian."

Quanell does not disagree with Wright.

"There was a time when I would have said he's absolutely right," Quanell says. "But not today. I've met too many good white people."

Says Michael Berry, "Quanell sometimes rushes to the lowest common denominator, which is screaming racism. And he's therefore marginalizing himself. And I think he recognized that. I think that he has matured and he has gone about taking up some new causes, and being more thoughtful and deliberate before he speaks."

One of the comments Quanell made that continues to haunt his public image occurred at a 1999 rally protesting the scheduled execution of an African American convicted of murder, when he reportedly said, "If you feel that you just got to mug somebody because of your hurt and your pain, go to River Oaks and mug you some good white folks."

Quanell insists that his comment was a premeditated publicity stunt aimed at shocking white Houstonians in hopes of forcing a desperately needed discussion between whites and blacks at a time when he especially felt the city's white elite did not care about the problems in the black community. To a degree, Quanell regrets the words he chose that day.

"What they heard was shock and awe," he says. "I did not know how many young white people I frightened. I was aiming at their parents. But years later, I learned that young white youth were afraid to go to school. I felt sad and I felt bad, because they were like collateral damage of a statement that I didn't mean to harm them. But what I learned was that language affects more than just your target audience. And so I didn't mean to frighten the youth, I didn't mean to put the white youth at odds with the black youth. I was screaming out to white people who have the ability, the talent, the political connections, the power to stop and say, 'What is happening in the black community, we have a duty to help them and to change the shameful, wretched conditions that they're living in.' And that's why I said what I did. It just had more than the planned effect."
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The epiphany that sent Quanell hurtling down the road to change, he says, happened several years ago when Houston's Arab Muslim leaders asked him to help organize a protest against Israel for its actions against Yasir Arafat. Wanting to help his Muslim brothers, Quanell agreed.

He says he did not expect to get slapped in the face.

The night before the protest, Quanell says, several Arab leaders voiced concern over letting a black man be their spokesman at the event.

"Boy, when I saw them debating my skin color," says Quanell, "it broke my heart. I believed that in Islam, racism didn't exist. Remember, Malcolm X said there was no color in Islam, but Malcolm didn't live long enough to see the real manifestations of the hypocrisy of those who call themselves Muslim."

The bitter sting of racism within his own religious circles launched Quanell into deep study, he says, and he began reading history books — about how the Arabs began trading in African slaves before the Europeans — and the Qur'an, which, to his surprise, he discovered says no sex or race is superior to any other.

At the same time that Quanell was coming to grips with his own hateful comments from the past, he also began revising his priorities for the future. It was time, he decided, to use all his energy previously consumed by hating and focus it on finding solutions to what he now saw as the greatest problem in the black community: itself.

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This person seems to have refined and upgraded his "hustle" from crack dealing to hate mongering to the more streamlined and modernized "reformed and now better informed" platform. Public apologies do not negate past actions and comments. Saying sorry does not fix the prior idiotic statements made by him earlier in his career and like all people above elementary school age, we are wholly responsible for our own actions and statements. The fact that he would engage the media and project himself as a public figure while still being ignorant of something as fundamental as the holocaust is almost unbelievable. I would never want a leader, let alone a pseudo-street politician (regardless of how he and his handlers like to think of him) to represent me knowing that his current convictions could be born out of ignorance that he may renege on later, once it is professionally beneficial. It must be difficult to maintain anti-Semitic sentiment when your attorney who has saved your ass literally dozens of times is a Jew. I dont know why but i figured the leader of the new black panther party might be able to find a competent black attorney to keep on retainer as well, but of all the ex green beret mercenaries he has on his security detail, that jew lawyer is the most fearsome of his entire cadre. The Information Age has changed a lot about the world we live I'm today, including some of the worlds oldest scams, qx being the most modern rendition of the traveling snake oil salesman. He will sell you what you want to hear and when your tastes change, so does his approach, slightly. He's a muslim awaiting the return of christ? very wishy washy language that smacks of the same watered down politics he claims kept him away from politics. The vanity and narcissism of this man is disgusting, and the fact that he wraps it all up in a sleek suit and bodyguards does little to help his self serving image. I took particular exception to the end of the article stating that from his own admission, 40-45% of all claims are not racially based but rather constituents attempts to use qx's bullying force for their own agenda. Perfect representation of what he is really all about. A bully with a bull horn who has been slow to educate himself and grow as a man. I am not a fan of Michael berry in the slightest, but this article makes him out to be the more intelligent and more reasonable of the two polarizing houston figures. And that last thought leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth, kind of like holding a press conference touting racist practices for a supposed rape victim when it turns out she was lying about it all and only using you for her own gain, sound familiar? Keep on your hustle qx, only time will tell how you are remembered, if at all.

It's really pathetic, this poser is always squaking about equal rights, and at the same time talks about how typical thieves ought not be gunned down. IF a white man broke into a black mans house and got shot it would be fine... it would be justice... but put the roles opposite and it's a crime. ONE SIDED OPINION!! Only one sided. Typical racist black man. His "people" are the only ones being treated different? His "people" are the only ones being discriminated against? Bullshit. His opinion is the only one that matters? Bullshit! WAKE UP!! Your not the next "black leader". Your a pathetic, racist, liberal democratic whore who tricks for the publicity and news feeds. A one sided argument who has run it's course, A parrot who's agenda has been heard a thousand times. Here's an idea, GET YOUR OWN IDEAS and be original. Not a copy of another worthless idea. Grow up and actually be a MAN, not a boy chasing some talking points fed to him.

I bet you would not come to the aid of a white, Asian, etc. Seen your videos, and YOU are just full of hate...MLK would be embarrassed of your actions and your beliefs. I liked MLK and what he believed in, and you sir, are no better than the, kkk and the if you stand for justice do you call rioting justice? You are NOTHING compared MLK or even the earlier generation of the black panthers, because from what I read and videos I have seen, you worship violence, and that is not what MLK believed in and worked hard to bring people together, not divide races, and condone stupid, childish behavior. Your a grown man, and a human, start behaving like one. You are a discace to even blacks, you make the ones that actually believe America is for all human race no matter what color feel shame. You must really hate whites, etc... It also seems you do not care about these people you are helping, you just care about getting famous...well famous do not mean anything in hell, so get over yourself and stand for something even your "GOD" would be proud of.

Its really ashame you feel like the BLACK folks are not fairly treated! ! You should feel very lucky you lve HERE in amerian you could be living in the jungle !! What do think about a Black police officer kicking a white guy who is a theif resisting arest! Isa that a black thing?? You sir are a disgrace to your race! ! Nothing would please me more than to visit you face to face ~of no kkk no Blk panterners! You &I me head up

Not sure why he gets so much air time. It seems he is "changing his ways" to get more of his voice heard or to stay popular, sounds like a politician to me. The problem is you can't ignore a mole on your face and hope it goes away. You have to remove it. Mr. Evans please remove yourself!

Great article! I don't necessarily agree with some things Quanell has said in the past, but we all have made ignorant comments as youth- the older we get the wiser we become- blacks and whites have suffered for us (black folk) to have equal rights- with that being said- many of us have lost our voice and our pride!

Quanell I need ur help plz call me at 832 .416.4072 or 832 893.4938 ask for gabby number plz my brother Nicholas was shot down by a police son n there is no court or trial d se shooting plz help leave ur mess number n name

My name is kathy locks and I been trying to contact you because my brother needs your help. A prison called beto 1unit thats were he is and they treating him bad he want live long in that prison please help us my number is 409_597_1047 thanks.

I never realized this 'nut' was a Muslim. But isn't violence and hate the way of many people involved in that religion? There will never be total harmony between black and white people as long as someone like this idiot is allowed to exist.If your a thief, drug dealer, murderer, or rapist and you are black he will defend you.

I don't believe a word of his "supposed" evolution into the the "new and improved" Quanell. He's a moron and will always do whatever it takes to get his 15 minutes of fame. He's nothing more than a publicity whore!

Q-X is the worst of the worst he does not see any color but black and black is not always beautiful and he is a loser he helps killers and criminals get away with the crimes they commithe should be locked up with every person he has helped HE WILL GET HIS DAY OF JUDGEMENT AND GOD WILL NOT LET HIM WIN!!!!!!!!!!

The people who follow this moron, are even more ignorant than he is... If he wants to eliminate hate and injustice, he should start with himself. Hes definitely baiting it more than he is helping to stop it....

my name is rhonda robinson today me and my 9year old daughter went to popeyes on bissonett she ordered a chicken sandwich combo when we got home which is only about 3minutes away she opened her sandwich and said who ate half of it we looked at the sandwich and it was half eaten i took it back to them right away and all i was told was that they was going to look into it. i think this should be reported because this could have been a health issue for her, had she bitten off the sandwich she could have had to go through all kinds of test and i dont think that woukd have been fair to her due to them selling her this sandwich, this really upsets me i just keeping thinking about what if this had been a younger child that wouldnt have known to let their parents know that the sandwich had been ate off already that child could have been at risk or suffered from some kind of health problems.i think that this popeyes is putting the public at risk. and the public should be mande aware of it thank you r robinson

I have an issue with my son. He's 22 years old he's interracial african-american and mexican. I've had trouble with boys in the city. On Oct. 31, 2008 my son was assaulted by 4 young men and left my son for dead. He's now disabled from the traumatic brain injury to the head, he's partial blind from the left eye and his left side weak. The guys from the city continue to give him a hard time whenever he's in public guys surround and want to beat on him. I need help. I have yet to hear from the police department or the DA's office about the case. TO know if justice has prevailed on my sons behalf. People who know who did this tell him shut the ?? up before I get my nephew to kick you ass again. Of course I don't question anyone about the situation. but like I mentioned I need help. sincerly, mom needs peace

I wrote a story myself about Quanell X years ago for this newspaper. I regret that the story is still in circulation, for if I had it to do again, I would show how very necessary Quanell X is, regardless of his motives and mistakes, in a city that is naturally as racist as it is diverse. Flawed as he is, Quanell is a critical part of the ecosystem here.

Thank god for you QuannellX you are like us we are fighters.When are the white police dragged my son who was 17 years old from the Jefferson county jail in to a hospital and strapped him to a table trying to get a bullett.I no what rights mean to you.Stay in the news me and my daughters did.All this time joshua isent doing there time he is doing his time at home with his family.I feel sorry for Sandra laday but she better get ready like I did file a lawsuite hire some attorney out of state the county will take up for there own I am catching hell with my lawsuite but need be it will go to the justice department there has been crooket things going on in jefferson.I new once Kevin Laday body went there it was over.

As I read the article, it becamse apparent to me that I may not be as well educated as the writer. The article says that Mr. X does not speak along the same racial lines that he typically does. Hopefully some of you smart folk can help me. When I hear the term "American", I can't seem to derive anything that seperates the citizens of America by race or ehnic background in the word. When someone adds "African" and "Hispanic" in front of American, it tends to change the meaning of the word, or at least seperate groups of people as different under the banner of the term "American". Common social understanding of these terms usually identifies people as a certain "RACE" or "ETHNICISITY", when these terms are added. So when Mr X uses these terms, and doesn't include all possible races and ethnic backgrounds, I get confused. Does that particular drink not have the same negative effect on the youth of any other race or ethnic group than the ones he seems to single out? If using those terms doesn't create a seperation of countrymen based on race or ethnicisity as opposed to just using the tem "AMERICANS", then please have Mr X or the writer of the article help further my education by explaining.

The reason why Quanell has better luck at getting black fugitives behind bars, is that he insures the accused of being handled with kid gloves. If the truth be known, Quanell wouldn't bother trying to reel this criminals in unless of course there was crime stopper money involved. You see Quanell will only push the issue of getting a brother to surrender if he knew there was money, reward money involved. If there was an empyty purse, I would tell you that Quanell wouldn't be found anywhere within 50 miles of the story.

Lots of ego BS. The man makes his money by finding things in the news that upset the black community and then he gets on the news to say what he is going to do about it and who he is out to get. Then he invites people to join him at his meeting place for the march, or to get together at the mosque where he takes donations in cash in the same way that followers of religions give cash to their church every week. He then does not report the cash or use it for the black community but makes his BMW payment and pays his armed friends to make a showing. It is all a dog and pony show.

The network he has includes writers and news reporters that are Muslim (friends of friends) to get the press to cover him and not the other side of the conversation. Do not believe the articles that state how the black community feels this way or that way in Houston when Quannel talks because it is only his opinions that are stated. Do a survey of blacks and you will discover he will mostly be wrong about what we think. For one... our youths are not stupid and ignorant as he stated in the beginning...they bought some soda in a store... wow. Probably on their way to school and not to sell crack like he did at their age.

He preaches the seperation of races in the black community and hides the fact that he is married to an Asian lady who pretends to be his secretary at the Black Panther cause.

I sort of don't see the purpose of this article. So Quannel X thinks it is more pofitable now to tone down his previous egregious racism. In a way, he is no different, no better or worse, than any self-interested man-on-th-make, and that's probably what connects him with Michael Berry and the Baker and Botts lawyer, who had positive things to say about him. None of the three are workers or (real) small business people. He is the mirror image of any corporate CEO who would sell just about anything for maximum profit--and that is what connects his past to his present. All these type of people are symptoms of a society that does not reward people who really work very well. He does some good, like CEO's who gives donations to charity, but these types are consistently good citizens.

I have to admit that over the years I have regarded Quanell X as strictly a publicity seeking opportunist. There is still an aspect of his lifestyle and presentation of same that reeks of grandstanding. I must admit, however, that his presence alone can draw more attention to controversial cases than might have occurred naturally. One can say, without much argument, that his presence polarizes in many instances, but I see a benefit in having him represent, whether accurately or merely in spirit, a community that has been historically disenfranchised and is still looking for results-oriented local leadership. All that being said, it would be preferable for someone with his leadership ability and audience to set an example of relative financial transparency instead of gangster-like "bling" and secrecy. If not for his own credibility then for the young folks who may be looking to affect the greater good of Houston and beyond and are looking to him for an example. - David Beebe

Personally, I have no use for the man. He has convicted thugs running to him instead of turning themselves in. He still spews hate speech on a regular basis. He still gets too much attention and air-time than he even deserves.

He is not the news. He does not represent the black community as I see it. I have friends that are black and they do not act or talk like this man.

One, a very religious fellow, is the best of what I would consider a human being to be. He doesn't clammer for the spotlight. He does his duty everyday and knows he will be rewarded for his beliefs.

I don't think Houston needs him or people like him. I think people like him demean society and detract from the greater good.

Does anyone else find it ironic that somehow, in a time where public remarks of racism are condemned and the speakers of those words are shunned, Quanell X can say that "white people are on the back-burner" and that somehow makes everything he has said in the past OK? It's not like he said he was wrong about what he said in the past, or that ALL racism is equally unacceptable, he simply implied that hating white people is not his focus right now. WOW...way to give this guy relevance and meaning by giving him press. The media is to blame for the negative impact he has on the world, but MOST of all the black community.

Your comments only indicate that you are a moron. Whether you believe that his change is sincere are not is one thing, but to label the man as a moron is ridiculous! That is probably not even in his vocabulary!

What is wrong with anyone looking out for their own kind. When caucasians (no one is white) discriminate as they often do, you don't complain that all caucasians see is white and all white is not SNOW white. Or for that matter any other race of people. As for the other BS, you really should do your home work before you pass judgement and speak about it. Do you know God personally and has he stated that to you personally. Tell you what have God tell you that again and record it for us so you can prove it!!!

If the word "moron" is not in his vocabulary, then he obviously is a moron. I do know one "word" that is in his vocabulary, though: "testocular." As in, "...do you have the 'testocular' fortitude to report that?" The "that" he was referring to was the blatant lie that, at the counter-demonstration at Joe Horn's neighborhood, racist slurs, threats, and confederate flags were all present. None were, and everybody there could see and hear as much with their own senses, but this race-baiting, illiterate, criminal thug MORON demanded they report otherwise.